Calls to the HSE’s national counselling service increased by 300 per cent following publication of the Murphy report into the handling of allegations of child sex abuse in the Dublin diocese.
Following the publication of the report last month, the national counselling service (NCS) put in place a coordinated response so that all survivors of abuse would have access to a helpdesk to direct them to the most appropriate service.
In an update today, the HSE said the collaboration with organisations such as other organisations such as Faoiseamh, Connect, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and One in Four had worked “very well”.
The dedicated helpline will close on Sunday night, but the line will remain connected to the regular HSE NCS service.
Rachel Mooney, director of counselling with the HSE in south Dublin said: “We have collaborated with a number of other service providers to ensure that the needs of clients affected by the Dublin diocesan report are met.
“This collaborative approach has worked very well. In recognition of the courage it takes to begin the counselling journey we ensured that every person affected by the publication of the Dublin diocesan report who made a call got the offer of the service they felt was right for them and met their needs.
“This ranged from a professional counsellor to a referral for face-to-face counselling.”
Ms Mooney said that with the ‘step-down’ of the helpline services, the counselling services would remain in place for those who needed them.
The dedicated helpdesk set up following the Murphy report will close on Sunday night/Monday morning December 7th and normal services will resume on the HSE NCS national information line on 1800 235 234.
The helpdesk freephone will remain connected to the HSE NCS and a dedicated mailbox will be available for a further two weeks for those who need it.
Counselling is available at 60 locations throughout Ireland and can be accessed by calling freephone 1800 235 234 for an appointment at a suitable location.
The NCS said face-to-face counselling is also available from the HSE NCS 1800 235 237, from Dublin Rape Crisis Centre at 1800 77 88 88 and from Faoiseamh at 1800 331 234.
Set up at the same time as the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan commission), the free NCS service has been operating since September 2000.
It provides counselling and psychotherapy services for any adult who has experienced the trauma of abuse or neglect in childhood. It says such services help people “to cope better with their life and relationships”.